Promoting U.S. Space Leadership and International Cooperation

Funding Opportunity Title: Promoting U.S. Space Leadership and International Cooperation

Funding Opportunity Number: PD-SEOUL-FY25-05

Deadline for Applications: Tuesday, September 2, 2025, 11:59 p.m. (GMT+9)

CFDA Number: 19.040 – Public Diplomacy Programs

Type of Funding: FY25 Smith Mundt Public Diplomacy Funds

Total Amount Available: $100,000

Open to ROK Organizations Only. 

This notice is subject to availability of funding.

AL Number, funding type, and other award details may be subject to change prior to finalization.

Executive Summary

The U.S. seeks to advance its space leadership and expand international cooperation on mutually beneficial space activities. The U.S. Space Leadership and International Cooperation program aims to strengthen the understanding of, and support for, U.S. national space policies and programs, while promoting Korean use of U.S. space capabilities, systems, and services. This program will engage Korean and U.S. experts from various sectors (legal, administrative, technological, and policy) to jointly implement tabletop exercises analyzing potential future challenges and ultimately creating recommendations that would futureproof U.S. and ROK policies guiding these issues.

Eligible participants include think-tank researchers; professors of political science and foreign policy; scientists and engineers; legal experts such as law professionals, lawmakers or their assistants; policymakers such as government officials or policy advisors; businesspeople; and journalists.

The program aims to gather approximately 30 Korean experts from diverse sectors, along with 3-4 American interlocutors. Participants will include legal and engineering professionals, academia, government officials, business leaders, and media representatives. Together, they will conduct 1-2 day tabletop exercises focused on narrowing down feasible scenarios in the space arena and updating international space law. While the tabletop exercises will be conducted off-the-record to encourage open and candid discussions, an open session for the public and media will be held at the end to present the results and key findings.

Goals and Objectives

Proposals must include an American element or connection with U.S. experts, organizations, or institutions and should clearly explain the applicants’ previous experience running similar programs across the Republic of Korea and the United States.

The Promoting U.S. Space Leadership and International Cooperation seeks to foster bilateral dialogue and collaborative problem-solving on emerging space-related security challenges. As the commercialization and strategic importance of space continues to grow, outdated or absent international laws risk creating tensions over the use and ownership of celestial resources. This program will address such gaps through a focused U.S.-ROK initiative.

The primary activity will be a tabletop exercise designed and conducted jointly by Korean and American experts drawn from a range of sectors. Prior to the exercise, the program will convene selected interlocutors to deliver presentations on key topics including responsible space behavior, geopolitical threats, legal frameworks, and technological developments. Participants will then collaborate to develop and analyze a complex challenge scenario reflective of current and future risks. Insights from the tabletop exercise will be synthesized into forward-looking recommendations to inform both countries’ space-related strategies and policies.

The primary objectives of this project are strengthening the understanding of, and support for, U.S. national space policies and programs, supporting advocative voices of Korean experts in the space arena, and raising public awareness through media engagement. The goal is to foster a U.S.-friendly perspective on space topics in Korea, moving beyond the outdated and inaccurate narratives of Russia-Korea cooperation in rocket engineering.

Substantial Involvement:

The U.S. Embassy in Seoul will maintain substantial involvement throughout the planning and implementation of the program to ensure it aligns with U.S. public diplomacy objectives. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Providing input on program structure and content, including identifying or recommending U.S. speakers and interlocutors;
• Reviewing and approving participant selection criteria, recruitment materials, and the final participant list;

·        Ensuring alignment with broader Embassy priorities and thematic focus areas.

Note: Not mandatory, but you may use the templates provided here:

Proposal Template / Budget Template

All application materials must be submitted by email to [email protected]